Subscribe Feed (RSS)Herbs, Diet Changes Effective Alternative Medicine for Depression
Major depressive disorder, more commonly known as depression, is one of the most prevalent types of mood disorders affecting Americans today. According to figures from the National Institutes of Mental Health, depression affects some 14.8 million American adults or nearly seven percent of the population aged 18 and above.
The symptoms of depression are commonly treated with the use of antidepressants, but these drugs can have serious side effects. To illustrate, it was recently reported that antidepressants increase suicidal thoughts in people under twenty-five. Thus, an increasing number of sufferers are eschewing pharmaceutical treatments and looking for an alternative medicine for depression.
Herbal tonics have been seen as an effective alternative medicine for depression. These tonics, which combine two or more types of herbs, are prepared with an eye towards neutralizing their respective side effects and addressing the specific condition of the patient. Some examples of herbal tonics include Rosemary-Sage Tea (one teaspoon of rosemary and sage in two cups of water; boil, streep for five minutes, strain and take daily) and clove tea, which is used to relieve mild depression (add crushed cloves to peppermint, camomile or sage tea with a dash of ginseng).
Changes in diet to address nutritional deficiencies may also be helpful as an alternative medicine for depression. If you are suffering from depression, avoid excess consumption of caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol and dairy products. Increase the amount of fresh green vegetables, fresh fruit, whole cereals, well-cooked beans and soy protein in your diet. Avoid processed foods, canned foods, foods with artificial coloring and meats. Finally, avoid smoking since the nicotine in cigarettes can have a depressant effect.
